News

Comment: Jenny Hjul: Scotland needs fewer targets to hit bulls-eye

When the finance minister Andy Kerr takes part in the 10km qualifier for the New York marathon in Central Park today he will probably have set himself a tough target, not just to start the race but to finish well.

And when he and the first minister scrub up for Tartan Week’s Dressed to Kilt celebrations tomorrow, Kerr’s target will, no doubt, be to bring Jack McConnell together with Sean Connery, who will also be there. This will be nigh on impossible, given that Sir Sean has said he does not want to meet McConnell, but what’s the point of a target if it is not challenging? Kerr, as the minister responsible for ensuring the executive achieves its goals, is accustomed to challenges.

He and his colleagues currently have 162 targets, ranging from the vague “to work to represent Scotland in the EU” to the precise — for instance, to have